Minister died after being hit twice by OAP driver

A Church of Scotland Minister was killed after a pensioner reversed over him before hitting him a second time in confusion outside Edinburgh’s Waverley station.

The 78-year old motorist, who was prevented from entering Waverley Station due to an anti-terrorist barrier, was reversing out, but when he went to stop for pedestrians on the pavement, hit the accelerator pedal instead of the brake.

His Vauxhall Astra sped across the road, driving over a 76-year old minister, who had been attending The General Assembly of The Church of Scotland.

The car then hit a stationery Airlink bus on the opposite side of the road.

As he drove forward, his car hit the minister again.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court today the motorist, Kelman Edwards of Priestfield Road in the city, pled guilty to causing the death of Thomas Sinclair on May 19 last year by driving without due care and attention.

Fiscal Depute, Lewis Crosbie, told Sheriff Frank Crowe that Mr Sinclair of East Tarbet, Isle of Harris, had been on his way from the Assembly Hall on The Mound to meet his wife at the St James Centre and had been crossing Waverley Bridge when he was struck by the car.

Witnesses had dialled 999, said the Fiscal, and paramedics, police and Fire Service were quickly on the scene.

He added that Mr Sinclair had suffered a number of life-threatening injuries, including internal injuries, resulting in a quick death.

When Edwards was questioned by the police he told them: “I don’t believe I was driving without due care and attention”, but he added that he had no intention of driving again and had voluntarily given up his driving licence.

The Fiscal said alcohol had not been involved.

Defence solicitor, Jim Stephenson, said his client, who had no previous convictions of any kind, had been devastated by the accident and had lost three stone in weight.

Sheriff Crowe deferred sentence until next month for a background report and a Restriction of Liberty Assessment and applied an interim driving disqualification.